She didnt complain about me when she won national championships in 1986 and 1988 or the world championship in 1986, he said. There will be a tour of Europe following the world championships and then there will be another tour in the United States until June. Was for many years an orthopedic surgeon in Little Rock, Arkansas. In Colorado, all I had to do was skate and skate and skate. Her only deal is with MacMillan books. Relationship Status In terms of her personal life, Thomas married Brian Vander Hogen in 1988, however, their marriage ended in divorce. The gold medal within her grasp, needing only good, not great, scores to win the long program at the Olympic Saddledome and finish ahead of defending champion Katarina Witt of East Germany and Elizabeth Manley of Canada, Thomas gave a disappointing performance and finished third. Who Is Julian Sands' Wife? It sort of blew it for me., Elizabeth Manley, Katarina Witt and Debi Thomas at the 1988 Winter Olympic Games on February 27, 1988 at the Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada | Photo: GettyImages, Less than a month after the Olympics, Debi married Brian Vander Hogen, who was a student at the University of Colorado, on March 15, 1988. As anyone who follows sports realizes, that sometimes happens. When I got done skating, I felt like I had let down the country.. 'I'm facing probably nine years of study - it's like starting skating all over again,' she said. Her letter was technically intelligent and thoughtful. But in defense of himself, he did say that he coached Thomas no differently last year than he had in years before and that his remarks to her before she skated in Calgary were little different from those he made to her before other performances. However, when Debi got tired of jumping from job to job and decided to open her practice in Richlands, Virginia, she moved by herself and left her husband and son behind. Strong ability to adapt to complex . ''I did not want this news to detract from my focus on the world championships,'' Thomas said. She first got married to Brian Vander Hogenbut got divorced, and later she married to Chris Bequette. Thanks to her mother, Debi started training in figure skating, and she was inspired by the ice skating show Mr. Frick. It was a struggle. All Rights Reserved. Debi Thomas is currently living in Terre Haute, Indiana with her husband and son, and is a practicing physician in that city. Debis business inexperience and the fact that she chose a less populated town to open her first practice, soon led her to fall behind with her bills as she struggled to make end meets. Bill Szymczyk then produced Brian's followup, Magazine, in 2011. In June 2005, she graduated from the Orthopedic Residency Program at Charles R. Drew University in Los Angeles. Your email address will not be published. Her parents divorced in 1974.[1]. Thomas was born in Poughkeepsie, New York, in 1967 and first started skating around the age of five. Try 7 Days Free to get access to 836 million+ pages, Search the Largest Online Newspaper Archive. I would go home and do nothing. Select this result to view Brian J Hogan's phone number, address, and more. The first African-American to win a medal at the Winter Olympics (1988). I wasnt mentally focused on hitting that program. I am thrilled.''. There has been little desire to do that on the part of advertisers. Debi married her second husband, sports attorney, Chris Bequette, in 1996, and they welcomed a son, Christopher, in 1997. But I dont know what it could have been if things had been different in Calgary. The film also featured performances by Zakk Wylde, Jason Bonham, Myles Kennedy, Blas Elias and Nick Catanese. After retirement she focused on education, studying to become an orthopedic surgeon, thus she attended Stanford University and the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Olympian mentality is rough because you just get frustrated with how everybody does everything, Debi explained of her behavior. Debi joined Stars on Ice, and won the world professional figure skating championship in 1988, 1990 and 1991. Inducted into the U.S. Debi Thomas is a 55 year old American Skater. During the 1988 Winter Olympics, she once again fought with Katarina Witt in what was dubbed as the Battle of the Carmens in which both skaters had the same music Carmen from the Georges Bizet opera. BUDAPEST, Hungary -- Former world figure skating champion Debi Thomas married two weeks ago and kept the news a secret - even from her coach. She earned her bachelors degree in engineering from Stanford University in 1991 and then retired from skating in 1992 to enroll at the Northwestern University Medical School. Thomas, who celebrated her 21st birthday Friday, was married on March 15 in Boulder, Colo., to Brian Vanden Hogen, who turned 23 that day. 101 Followers, 175 Following, 14 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Brian Vanden Hogen (@bvandenhogen) Her first professional victory came in 1986 when she won the Gold Medal at the 1986 World Figure Skating Championships, and the same year she won the US national title which also increased the overall size of her net worth. Debi lost her bronze medal to the bank, and she doesnt feel bad about it. The speaker, a white woman who certainly had no accomplishments to her name like those of Ms. Thomas, referred to Ms. Thomas attitude as one of a loser. As if someone who wins an Olympic bronze medal could ever be considered a loser, never mind the fact that she was also a student at one of the most prestigious and demanding universities in the country, and in one of its most difficult fields. In 2000, Debi Thomas was inducted into the U.S. But dont call her the GOAT, Elliott: Nathan Chens fire still burns thanks to his mother and others who inspire him, 2022 Beijing Olympics: A day-by-day recap of the 24th Winter Games, Elliott: U.S.-Canada Rivalry Series shows how womens hockey needs more support to flourish, Elliott: Cayla Barnes golden career finally skates home to SoCal in USA-Canada series, Elliott: My medals are my armor. Jordan Chiles persistence guides her pursuit of greatness. In the latest Q ratings for athletes, which indicate a persons marketability, Thomas finished 12th. Music [ edit] Ark joined the band His Boy Elroy as a guitarist. When asked if she had told her coach Alex McGowan, she replied: 'Why would I tell him?'. Thomas, who turned 21 Friday, broke the news immediately after her appearance in the closing show of the championships. I spoke up at the time and reminded her that Mr. Iacocca could afford to be mellow because as a white man his leadership was accepted readily, while in the case of Ms. Thomas, she would be considered a loser no matter what she managed to achieve in life, which was already plenty for several lifetimes. The couple resides in sout-west Virginia in what is rumoured to be a somewhat difficult relationship. As the first black skater to achieve international, or even national, prominence, she was a champion, however reluctant, of minorities. Thomas has resumed her pre-med studies at Stanford. Nothing would ever be enough. Brian Vanden Hogen Director HVH Group Pty Ltd Greater Sydney Area HVH Group Pty Ltd, +7 more University of Colorado Boulder Brian Vanden Hogen Business Analyst at Electronic Theatre. ''My husband will travel with me to some of the upcoming skating exhibitions. And Thomas was a champion of those who believe that skaters should leave the sport with knowledge of something other than camel spins and triple-toe loops. Relationships Brian Vanden Hogen was previously married to Debi Thomas (1988 - 1991). In figure skating, the underprivileged are all those whose parents earn less than six figures each year. She also lost custody of her son due to poor living conditions. Clipping found in Green Bay Press-Gazette in Green Bay, Wisconsin on Feb 20, 1998. debi thomas brian vanden hogen Currently, she is engaged toJamie Looney, and she adopted his two sons. Graduated from Northwestern Medical School (1997), Graduated from Stanford University with a degree in engineering, On the cover of Time magazine (February 15, 1988). Her rivalry with East Germany's Katarina Witt at the 1988 Calgary Olympics was known as the Battle of the Carmens. In 1986 she won the U.S. National ladies figure skating title, becoming the first African American woman to win a non-novice title. Forego a bottle of soda and donate its cost to us for the information you just learned, and feel good about helping to make it available to everyone. His first husband was Brian Vander Hogen(1988-96), then she was married to sports attorney Chris Bequette(1996-98), with whom she has a son. Debi and Jamies only source of income were the social security checks that he received after the death of his wife, and the little commissions they did working with a gold company called Karatbars. During her medical career she had difficulty working with other doctors and went from clinic to clinic, never staying longer than one year. Even though she gave them a reason not to in Calgary, people still seem to like her. They dated for 1 year after getting together in 1986 and married on 15th Mar 1988. She said that while she should have been focusing on her routine, particularly the triple jump combination, he was telling her about the average scores given to Witt and Manley, advising her that there was room for her to score better, and encouraging her to win the gold medal for America. Ogden said he believes her fans can relate to her better than if she had won the gold medal. In February 1986, she took the senior women's title at the U.S. But I told him that if that were true, I wouldnt have won at the national championships (a month before the Olympics). Husband, Net Inducted into the San Jose [California] Sports Hall of Fame in 1998. 1997), who currently plays defensive tackle for Boston . She is best known from being a two time US national champion, and the 1988 Olympic bronze medalist in figure skating. Figure Skating Hall of Fame and, in 2002, served as a representative for the U.S. Olympic committee at the winter games in Salt Lake City,[2]. Everyone in your support group has to try and understand what youre going through. Ogden said he believes the only other woman who will have a significant standing in the next Q ratings is sprinter Florence Griffith Joyner. Ahead of the 1988 Olympics, which took place in Calgary, Canada, Debi reclaimed once again her title in the U.S Nationals. Figure Skating Hall of Fame. In the end we are all on our own specific spiritual journeys. Brian Vanden Hogen was previously married to Debi Thomas (1988 - 1991). Figure Skating Championships in Denver, 1988 | Photo: GettyImages. '', See the article in its original context from. On March 15, 1988 Debi Thomas married, Brian Vander Hogen in Boulder, Colorado. Brian Vanden Hogen girlfriend, wife list. Get this The Des Moines Register page for free from Wednesday, March 30, 1988 band By JULIE HUTCHINSON 1988 Knight-Ridder Newspapers " DENVER, COLO. - They hugged so hard you could almost hear . She was incredibly gracious and wrote me a long letter (snail mail) with great suggestions. The next year she returned even more ready to turn things around in both events. She married and divorced Brian Vanden Hogen, but then married a second time to Chris Bequette. According to a February 2016 online article in The Washington Post, she had declared bankruptcy, let her medical license expire, and was living with her fianc in a trailer in rural southern Virginia (see Miscellaneous links). If you compare what I made before the Olympics and what Im making now, Im doing pretty well, Thomas said. send a message to a profile manager: https://www.blacknamesproject.com/people/debi-thomas-debra-janine-thomas, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debi_Thomas, https://www.newspapers.com/image/191059259/?article=e072bd0b-be1a-4bd0-a526-632b688f4780&focus=0.019761946,0.31032646,0.17781022,0.6181982&xid=3398, USBH Notables, Needs Genealogically Defined, US Black Heritage Project, Needs Profiles Created, US Black Heritage Project Managed Profiles. Debra Janine Thomas was born in Poughkeepsie, New York, in 1967. After their relationship ended, she married a sports attorney, Chris Bequette, in autumn 1996. Takin selfies with friends and new friends at #WOFLovedTour pic.twitter.com/kMCdLTxlUt, Debi Thomas (@Orthodeb) October 10, 2015, Posted by Debi Thomas onWednesday, November 2, 2016, In 1986, Thomas won the US National and World Championships, culminating in her being awarded Athlete of the Year from Wide World of Sports, the first female athlete to win while still attending college full-time, since Tenley Albright during the 1950s. She was one of the first female skaters to ever complete a triple toe-triple toe combination during the 1980s. Only the Trusted List can access the following: Leave a message for others who see this profile. He eventually quit and started the band Johnny with an Eye with his brother, Brad Vander Ark. A small donation would help us keep this available to all. The couple resides in sout-west Virginia in what is rumoured to be a somewhat difficult relationship. When a police officer arrived, Debi said she had a gun and wanted to hurt herself. Login She said that he convinced her to drop out of Stanford last winter, move to Boulder, Colo., and devote all of her energy to preparing for the Olympics. That rating was taken before the Summer Olympics. Debi Thomas, the former figure skater that became the first black athlete to win a medal at the Winter Olympics, turned into a struggling physician that lost her bronze medal to bankruptcy. Debi Thomas on "Iyanla: Fix My Life" | Source: YouTube/OWN. But she sacrificed whatever she had to assure that her daughter could pursue her goals. PRIVACY TAKE-DOWN REQUEST 2008 - 2023 INTERESTING.COM, INC. Brian felt like it was his fault, she said. Even though she said that she wanted to be known as a skater, not as a black skater, she could not deny that she felt responsibility as a role model. More about Her Life, Maddie Brown Shares Her Postpartum Journey Weeks after Giving Birth to Third Child, Jamie Lee Curtis Admits 'Saying Goodbye' to James Corden Was Harder than She Thought as His Show Ends, Florence Griffith-Joyner's Husband Al Found Her Lifeless in Their Bedroom & Tried to Revive Her by Himself, Are Madison Chock & Evan Bates Married? That same year, Debi was named ABCs Wide World of Sports Athlete of the Year. Its a no-win situation for me, he said in Baltimore. Again, she pointed a finger at McGowan. She is now engaged to Jamie Loonie and they have two children together, residing in southwest Virginia. He eventually quit and started the band Johnny with an Eye with his brother, Brad Vander Ark. He never understood my reasons for skating. Vander Ark also composed the musical scores for Dead & Breakfast and Unearthed. In 1996, she married Chris Bequette, a sports attorney, and they had a son before divorcing. A close up of my four biggest skating accomplishments Olympic Bronze, Two U.S. National Championship Golds, and a, Posted by Debi Thomas onSaturday, March 27, 2010. African American History: Research Guides & Websites, Global African History: Research Guides & Websites, African American Scientists and Technicians of the Manhattan Project, Envoys, Diplomatic Ministers, & Ambassadors, http://www.espn.com/skating/news/2000/0209/345701.html, http://blackamericaweb.com/?q=articles/news/the_state_of_black_america_news/16253, Foundation, Organization, and Corporate Supporters. For her personal life, it is known that Thomas married Brian Vander Hogen in 1988 but their marriage ended in divorce. They divorced. I wouldnt do it again because I already did it once, she said. Graduated from Northwestern Medical School (1997), Graduated from Stanford University with a degree in engineering, On the cover of Time magazine (February 15, 1988). Join Facebook to connect with Brian Vanden Hogen and others you may know. My coach really felt that if he could get me out there alone, away from school, that I would be like a robot and do whatever he wanted, she said. So, why did this idiot speaker refer to her as a loser? As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Not only that, but the speaker compared Ms. Thomas attitude to the leadership style of Lee Iacocca (a white male, of course), whose mellow style the speaker considered outstanding. Facebook gives people the. Thomas signed on with coach Alex McGowan, when she was 10 years old. But her fame was fickle. During her career she won numerous prestigious competitions, and became one of the best figure skaters of all time, for which she was inducted into the Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 2000. People are so obsessed with material things, but I only care about knowledge., Debi Thomas and Jamie Looney on "Iyanla: Fix My Life" | Source: YouTube/OWN. 'It's not my primary goal,' she said. As it turned out, after landing on both feet after the second triple jump, she did not care whether she recovered. How rich is Debi Thomas? Debi Thomas and Brian Vanden Hogen were married for 2 years. She was the first athlete since Tenley Albright in the 1950s to win those titles while attending college. She was 19. Vander Ark played bassist Ricki Bell, of the fictional band Blood Pollution. The only other time she had put skating ahead of school, when she was a 13-year-old eighth-grader in San Jose, the result was the most miserable year of her life. Once, she graduated from the orthopedic Residency Program at Charles R. University..., address, and more her fans can relate to her better than if she had difficulty with! Less than six figures each year keep this available to all only the Trusted List can access the:. Physician in that city championships, '' Thomas said to connect with Brian Vanden Hogen, but then married second. 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